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The Chicago Challengers Series #2
Puck Bunny
He's one scandal away from losing everything.
It took grit and determination, but John Richards has managed to claw out a spot for himself in the NHL and hold onto it for over a decade.
Unfortunately, thanks to a combination of poor choices and a shadow from his past, he's one misstep away from losing it all.
What he needs now is a miracle.
She's one bad date away from giving up on love.
Annie Taylor is cursed. It's the only possible explanation for the recent string of bizarre dates she's had with men ranging from Spandex fanatics to macaroni artists.
What she really needs is a dating hiatus, a break from her never-ending quest to find The One.
Annie is shocked when her brother-in-law's teammate proposes a fake-dating scheme. Her wholesome kindergarten teacher vibe is just what he needs to rehab his image.
It sounds crazy, but the more she thinks about it, the more perfect she realizes his plan might be. How better to protect her heart–and preserve her sanity–than to “commit” to the least available man possible?
Puck Bunny is the second book in Jillian Maclean's heart-warming Chicago Challengers hockey series.
It took grit and determination, but John Richards has managed to claw out a spot for himself in the NHL and hold onto it for over a decade.
Unfortunately, thanks to a combination of poor choices and a shadow from his past, he's one misstep away from losing it all.
What he needs now is a miracle.
She's one bad date away from giving up on love.
Annie Taylor is cursed. It's the only possible explanation for the recent string of bizarre dates she's had with men ranging from Spandex fanatics to macaroni artists.
What she really needs is a dating hiatus, a break from her never-ending quest to find The One.
Annie is shocked when her brother-in-law's teammate proposes a fake-dating scheme. Her wholesome kindergarten teacher vibe is just what he needs to rehab his image.
It sounds crazy, but the more she thinks about it, the more perfect she realizes his plan might be. How better to protect her heart–and preserve her sanity–than to “commit” to the least available man possible?
Puck Bunny is the second book in Jillian Maclean's heart-warming Chicago Challengers hockey series.
418 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
February 28, 2026
This hockey romance was such a soft, sweet surprise and honestly left me with the biggest smile 🏒💗
Book two in the series leans into some of my favorite tropes — grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, slow burn, and hockey player x teacher — and it balances them so well. It’s light and cute in places, but also layered with emotional growth and self-discovery that made it feel meaningful.
Annie completely won me over. Her journey toward self-acceptance felt so genuine and relatable. Watching her agree to fake date John and slowly start questioning what was real? I loved every second of that tension. You could feel her heart opening little by little, and it made the payoff so much sweeter.
And John… I expected full grumpy hockey player energy, but instead we get this shy, slightly awkward, soft-underneath-the-scowl man who absolutely melts for Annie. The way his walls come down around her was everything. He may be reserved in public, but in private? He makes sure Annie knows exactly how beautiful and worthy she is. The quiet devotion. The tenderness. The way he steps up and takes charge when it matters. Swoon.
Their slow burn is definitely slow — slower than I usually prefer — but it works for their story. You really get to see them build trust and friendship before anything else, which makes their relationship feel solid and earned. And that little twist near the end? Totally caught me off guard in the best way.
If you love romances where the couple genuinely brings out the best in each other, where growth and softness matter just as much as chemistry, and where the grump falls the hardest? This one is absolutely worth picking up. It’s sweet, heartfelt, and full of those quiet, swoony moments that make you hug the book when you’re done 💕✨
Book two in the series leans into some of my favorite tropes — grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, slow burn, and hockey player x teacher — and it balances them so well. It’s light and cute in places, but also layered with emotional growth and self-discovery that made it feel meaningful.
Annie completely won me over. Her journey toward self-acceptance felt so genuine and relatable. Watching her agree to fake date John and slowly start questioning what was real? I loved every second of that tension. You could feel her heart opening little by little, and it made the payoff so much sweeter.
And John… I expected full grumpy hockey player energy, but instead we get this shy, slightly awkward, soft-underneath-the-scowl man who absolutely melts for Annie. The way his walls come down around her was everything. He may be reserved in public, but in private? He makes sure Annie knows exactly how beautiful and worthy she is. The quiet devotion. The tenderness. The way he steps up and takes charge when it matters. Swoon.
Their slow burn is definitely slow — slower than I usually prefer — but it works for their story. You really get to see them build trust and friendship before anything else, which makes their relationship feel solid and earned. And that little twist near the end? Totally caught me off guard in the best way.
If you love romances where the couple genuinely brings out the best in each other, where growth and softness matter just as much as chemistry, and where the grump falls the hardest? This one is absolutely worth picking up. It’s sweet, heartfelt, and full of those quiet, swoony moments that make you hug the book when you’re done 💕✨
February 26, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Thank you Love Notes PR & Jillian Maclean for the ARC!
This was such a cute, cozy hockey romance! You’ve got grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, and a slow burn that really slow burns — and honestly, I had a soft spot for it.
Annie was so relatable, especially watching her figure herself out again, and John? Total grump on the outside, secret marshmallow on the inside. I loved seeing his softer side peek through.
The third-person POV took me a minute to settle into, and the miscommunication stretched things out a bit more than I prefer, but I genuinely liked these two together. They brought out the best in each other, which made the emotional payoff feel worth it.
The ending caught me off guard — not bad at all, just different than I pictured!
Overall, a sweet, character-focused romance that slow-burn lovers will definitely enjoy. 💕
Thank you Love Notes PR & Jillian Maclean for the ARC!
This was such a cute, cozy hockey romance! You’ve got grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, and a slow burn that really slow burns — and honestly, I had a soft spot for it.
Annie was so relatable, especially watching her figure herself out again, and John? Total grump on the outside, secret marshmallow on the inside. I loved seeing his softer side peek through.
The third-person POV took me a minute to settle into, and the miscommunication stretched things out a bit more than I prefer, but I genuinely liked these two together. They brought out the best in each other, which made the emotional payoff feel worth it.
The ending caught me off guard — not bad at all, just different than I pictured!
Overall, a sweet, character-focused romance that slow-burn lovers will definitely enjoy. 💕
March 6, 2026
ARC REVIEW
2.5 stars
I liked the banter and there were some sweet moments. I normally LOVE fake dating but this felt forced, rushed, and random. I also did not like where the book went at around chapter 70/71, that was such a strange and unrealistic way to end this book for me.
2.5 stars
I liked the banter and there were some sweet moments. I normally LOVE fake dating but this felt forced, rushed, and random. I also did not like where the book went at around chapter 70/71, that was such a strange and unrealistic way to end this book for me.
February 14, 2026
ARC review thank you to love notes for picking me! This book was cute and I loved the character growth but the self deprecation on both sides did become a bit exhausting as the book went on. The ending was a bit odd but overall it was a fun read!
March 30, 2026
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of the book and spoilers towards the end
This book was...fine. Originally, I was going to give the book 3 stars, but the last 10% was so random and unrealistic, that I bumped it down to 2 stars.
I'm a big fan of fake dating, but the characters have to know each other for a while (i.e. friends, co-workers, best friend's brother, etc). The fake dating here felt a bit too random as John and Annie have only met each other a handful of times. (I haven't read book 1 of the series so they might have known each other more then, but in this book, I got the impression that they've only met a few times before deciding to fake date). I was also surprised that the most of the book takes place over the time span of one month, which is stated in Chapter 52 & 57. This short of a timeframe make the storyline unrealistic for me.
I also got a bit annoyed with the author because she kept emphasizing how John and Annie didn't think they were each other's type. For example, John saw himself as dumb trailer trash that barely passed high school that would never measure up to Annie's academic level. Annie because she was curvier with a bigger butt and thick thighs (oh no my lobster too buttery and my steak too juicy) which wasn't the typical body type of John's past puck bunnies.
Some of the dialogue was a bit cringe like when John said he needed to put on his big boy pants and tell Annie how he felt or Annie's inner thoughts of "What in the name of Goldfish crackers had she stumbled into?”
Spoiler alert!
The author deciding to have Annie kidnapped in Chapter 71 with only 75 chapters in the book felt so out of left field. I was rolling my eyes a bit because the boss of the kidnapper turned out to be the dad of Annie's students.
BUT there were some parts of the book that I did enjoy. For example, I loved the scenes where Annie got her butterfly tattoo and John was explaining the meaning behind his lioness and cub tattoo and when they went to the sex store together. John really encouraged Annie to take a self-discovery journey while they were fake dating so she could grow as a person and learn what she likes.
This book was...fine. Originally, I was going to give the book 3 stars, but the last 10% was so random and unrealistic, that I bumped it down to 2 stars.
I'm a big fan of fake dating, but the characters have to know each other for a while (i.e. friends, co-workers, best friend's brother, etc). The fake dating here felt a bit too random as John and Annie have only met each other a handful of times. (I haven't read book 1 of the series so they might have known each other more then, but in this book, I got the impression that they've only met a few times before deciding to fake date). I was also surprised that the most of the book takes place over the time span of one month, which is stated in Chapter 52 & 57. This short of a timeframe make the storyline unrealistic for me.
I also got a bit annoyed with the author because she kept emphasizing how John and Annie didn't think they were each other's type. For example, John saw himself as dumb trailer trash that barely passed high school that would never measure up to Annie's academic level. Annie because she was curvier with a bigger butt and thick thighs (oh no my lobster too buttery and my steak too juicy) which wasn't the typical body type of John's past puck bunnies.
Some of the dialogue was a bit cringe like when John said he needed to put on his big boy pants and tell Annie how he felt or Annie's inner thoughts of "What in the name of Goldfish crackers had she stumbled into?”
Spoiler alert!
The author deciding to have Annie kidnapped in Chapter 71 with only 75 chapters in the book felt so out of left field. I was rolling my eyes a bit because the boss of the kidnapper turned out to be the dad of Annie's students.
BUT there were some parts of the book that I did enjoy. For example, I loved the scenes where Annie got her butterfly tattoo and John was explaining the meaning behind his lioness and cub tattoo and when they went to the sex store together. John really encouraged Annie to take a self-discovery journey while they were fake dating so she could grow as a person and learn what she likes.
February 28, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars for this book. I loved Annie and John so much. I loved how much they cared for each other. John might be a tough NHL enforcer with his team and Annie might be a sweet family oriented kindergarten teacher but they were at their best when they are together. Both these characters were so well written.
John, like many pro athletes went a little wild after making it to the big show and for a long time, he embraced that lifestyle. He wanted to prove he wasn't the poor kid from the wrong side of Philly. He liked flashy and expensive things, compensating for his oast and trying to run from his past. Scared that someone would see him as less worthy because of his childhood. Scared that they would see him as a dumb kid who shouldn't have made it. He thought negatively about himself and believed he wasn't good enough for an amazing woman like Annie.
Annie might have an NHL player for a brother in law but she doesn't follow hockey. She will attend games, usually to help her sister. One of her best friend's was also dating a player. Annie knew some of the players because of this but none would consider her a puck bunny, unless they were idiots. She was a friend but nothing more. She loved her life as a teacher but was extremely hard on herself. She was self conscious about her figure and her weight. She didn't believe she was beautiful and felt that she wasn't worth a players time. She continually compared herself to the typical supermodel WAGs and didn't trust that any guy, especially a pro athlete would want her. She settled for less, accepting dates from guys who were truly unworthy of even one minute of her time. When John offered her his extra ticket she thought there was no way a catch like him could want to date anyone as plain as her.
After they were seen together, John was getting positive pr so they decided to fake date, eventually living together after a plumbing and heating emergency. With fake dates for social media posts and many nights in together they settled into a comfortable friendship. They were determined ti help each other, Annie learning more about her own wants and needs and John getting the best contract we could. Soon real feelings were in play but neither felt worthy of the other. I hated how they truly felt so negatively about themselves. They both need to work on their self esteem and self worth. When they finally truly communicate with each other without fear they could gave a happily ever after. Though they do have to stop letting the media and outside sources dictate their relationship. As long as they continue to love and support each other they will be a power couple for years to come. Annie might have a puck bunny shirt but she will never be a bunny. She is one of the Challengers WAGs and she caught her buck!
Thank you Jillian Maclean and LoveNotesPR for the ARC and the opportunity to review!
John, like many pro athletes went a little wild after making it to the big show and for a long time, he embraced that lifestyle. He wanted to prove he wasn't the poor kid from the wrong side of Philly. He liked flashy and expensive things, compensating for his oast and trying to run from his past. Scared that someone would see him as less worthy because of his childhood. Scared that they would see him as a dumb kid who shouldn't have made it. He thought negatively about himself and believed he wasn't good enough for an amazing woman like Annie.
Annie might have an NHL player for a brother in law but she doesn't follow hockey. She will attend games, usually to help her sister. One of her best friend's was also dating a player. Annie knew some of the players because of this but none would consider her a puck bunny, unless they were idiots. She was a friend but nothing more. She loved her life as a teacher but was extremely hard on herself. She was self conscious about her figure and her weight. She didn't believe she was beautiful and felt that she wasn't worth a players time. She continually compared herself to the typical supermodel WAGs and didn't trust that any guy, especially a pro athlete would want her. She settled for less, accepting dates from guys who were truly unworthy of even one minute of her time. When John offered her his extra ticket she thought there was no way a catch like him could want to date anyone as plain as her.
After they were seen together, John was getting positive pr so they decided to fake date, eventually living together after a plumbing and heating emergency. With fake dates for social media posts and many nights in together they settled into a comfortable friendship. They were determined ti help each other, Annie learning more about her own wants and needs and John getting the best contract we could. Soon real feelings were in play but neither felt worthy of the other. I hated how they truly felt so negatively about themselves. They both need to work on their self esteem and self worth. When they finally truly communicate with each other without fear they could gave a happily ever after. Though they do have to stop letting the media and outside sources dictate their relationship. As long as they continue to love and support each other they will be a power couple for years to come. Annie might have a puck bunny shirt but she will never be a bunny. She is one of the Challengers WAGs and she caught her buck!
Thank you Jillian Maclean and LoveNotesPR for the ARC and the opportunity to review!
March 9, 2026
Favorite quote: "You don't have to be perfect to be lovable, John".
I enjoyed every second of reading Puck Bunny. It has all the things I like in a book: slown burn, cuteness, the exact amount of spice and such sweet and adorable characters.
The story is about John, a famous Hockey player, and Annie who is a kindergarten teacher. They agree to pretend that they're a couple, both for different reasons. John needs to clean up his bad boy image for the public, in order to get him a good new Hockey deal. Annie is done with all the losers she dated and needs a break from it. She also wants to explore what she likes and needs in a relationship, rather than only thinking what it is that she can do to pleasure her partner.
The main trope in this book is fake dating, one of my favorites. I like it when pretended feelings turn in to real ones. Often there's already a fysical attraction when they start to fake date, but during their time together they also fall in love with each other's personality. That's also the case with Annie and John. I loved how their relationship slowly developed into something beautiful and heartwarming.
I liked the dual point of view. This brought more dept to the characters. You get to know John's feelings and thoughts about the fake dating process, but also how Annie experiences it. Allthough I do think that the plottwist in the end was maybe a bit far-fetched, I understand why Jillian included this part in the book. It gave closure to something that played an important part in John's life and had effected him in a bad way.
If you are looking for a sweet and spicy lovestory, I highly recommend Puck Bunny. I think there were not many moments in the book that I wasn't reading it with a smile on my face.
Puck Bunny is the 2nd part of the Chicago Challengers Series, but can be read as a standalone. 'Stick Sides' is the 1st part that I'm definitely going to read too.
Thank you Jillian MacLean and Lovenotes PR for receiving this ARC.
I enjoyed every second of reading Puck Bunny. It has all the things I like in a book: slown burn, cuteness, the exact amount of spice and such sweet and adorable characters.
The story is about John, a famous Hockey player, and Annie who is a kindergarten teacher. They agree to pretend that they're a couple, both for different reasons. John needs to clean up his bad boy image for the public, in order to get him a good new Hockey deal. Annie is done with all the losers she dated and needs a break from it. She also wants to explore what she likes and needs in a relationship, rather than only thinking what it is that she can do to pleasure her partner.
The main trope in this book is fake dating, one of my favorites. I like it when pretended feelings turn in to real ones. Often there's already a fysical attraction when they start to fake date, but during their time together they also fall in love with each other's personality. That's also the case with Annie and John. I loved how their relationship slowly developed into something beautiful and heartwarming.
I liked the dual point of view. This brought more dept to the characters. You get to know John's feelings and thoughts about the fake dating process, but also how Annie experiences it. Allthough I do think that the plottwist in the end was maybe a bit far-fetched, I understand why Jillian included this part in the book. It gave closure to something that played an important part in John's life and had effected him in a bad way.
If you are looking for a sweet and spicy lovestory, I highly recommend Puck Bunny. I think there were not many moments in the book that I wasn't reading it with a smile on my face.
Puck Bunny is the 2nd part of the Chicago Challengers Series, but can be read as a standalone. 'Stick Sides' is the 1st part that I'm definitely going to read too.
Thank you Jillian MacLean and Lovenotes PR for receiving this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Puck Bunny 🐰
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Jillian Maclean for trusting me with this wonderful ARC!🩵
After overcoming every difficulty,John Richards is finally into NHL.Yet,he will find himself one wrong decision away from being kicked out.
Annie Taylor,doesn't remember herself being in a successful date.So, when her brother's in law teammate,suggests her to fake date,she believes that only through this way her curse may be lifted.
THAT WAS AMAZING.It literally gave EVERYTHING that I wanted it,to give.We have passion,love,funny moments,hockey,a super hot man,and a sunshine girly that is about to discover herself!What else can I ask?As you understand a 5 star rating is MANDATORY is this one.✨
Getting into the characters,both Annie & John had incredibly chemistry,and I could not get enough of them.Every scene they had was even better than the previous one!As individuals,they are POLAR opposites,and if you ask me that is what made them THE COUPLE!
Their romance,is instant attraction,yet slow burning as they both need to understand who they truly are and not just have an other relationships that is going to end up just hitting a wall.Specifically Annie,is doing a great job,& in the end we see a new wonderful woman,that is ready to conquer the world with her energy!GO GIRL!
An other little detail I loved,was the mystery that was going around for the most of the book about John past.The whole idea was,really good written and the ending of that story did not disappoint AT ALL!
Just like that,I arrived at the epilogue that was so,so original and gave me the moment that I was like WE HAVE THAT 5 STAR HERE!🫣
Long story short,if you are in the mood of a cute hockey romance or just finished heated rivalry and need an other five star in your TBR,Puck Bunny is THE PERFECT read for you!
Out On 25th,Feb 🏒
5⭐
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Jillian Maclean for trusting me with this wonderful ARC!🩵
After overcoming every difficulty,John Richards is finally into NHL.Yet,he will find himself one wrong decision away from being kicked out.
Annie Taylor,doesn't remember herself being in a successful date.So, when her brother's in law teammate,suggests her to fake date,she believes that only through this way her curse may be lifted.
THAT WAS AMAZING.It literally gave EVERYTHING that I wanted it,to give.We have passion,love,funny moments,hockey,a super hot man,and a sunshine girly that is about to discover herself!What else can I ask?As you understand a 5 star rating is MANDATORY is this one.✨
Getting into the characters,both Annie & John had incredibly chemistry,and I could not get enough of them.Every scene they had was even better than the previous one!As individuals,they are POLAR opposites,and if you ask me that is what made them THE COUPLE!
Their romance,is instant attraction,yet slow burning as they both need to understand who they truly are and not just have an other relationships that is going to end up just hitting a wall.Specifically Annie,is doing a great job,& in the end we see a new wonderful woman,that is ready to conquer the world with her energy!GO GIRL!
An other little detail I loved,was the mystery that was going around for the most of the book about John past.The whole idea was,really good written and the ending of that story did not disappoint AT ALL!
Just like that,I arrived at the epilogue that was so,so original and gave me the moment that I was like WE HAVE THAT 5 STAR HERE!🫣
Long story short,if you are in the mood of a cute hockey romance or just finished heated rivalry and need an other five star in your TBR,Puck Bunny is THE PERFECT read for you!
Out On 25th,Feb 🏒
5⭐
Review of advance copy
A Sweet Hockey Romance That Scores
Dedication: This book is dedicated with deepest respect and encouragement to those who were afraid to try and fail but chose to try anyway. It’s hard to put ourselves out there and risk both judgement and failure, but success is impossible to achieve without hard work, perseverance, and an unwavering confidence in ourselves and our potential. Believe in yourself. I do.
Annie (FMC): 26 • Kindergarten Teacher • Enjoys Crafting & Knitting • Homebody • Book Lover •
John (MMC): Right Winger • Star Enforcer • Party & Bad Boy • Dog Dad •
Tropes:
🏒 NHL Player x Kindergarten Teacher
🖍️ Hockey Romance
🏒 Fake Dating
🖍️ Opposites Attract
🏒 Teammate's SIL
🖍️ Reformed Player Bad Boy
🏒 Banter as Flirting
🖍️ Found Family
🏒 Nicknames
🖍️ Adorable Fluffy Sidekick (🐶)
Rating: 🦌🦌🦌🦌(4⭐️)
Spice: 🌶️🫑🫑(self pleasure, toys as teammates, praise, dirty talk, impact play (light), begging)
T/W: alcohol consumption (on page), parental abandonment (referenced), absentee parenting (referenced), body image issues (on page), manipulation (not MCs, on page), death of a loved one (referenced), narcotics use (referenced, not MCs), AIWS/Todd’s Syndrome (referenced), grief (referenced), unwanted taking of a person (on page)
What starts as a perfectly logical PR move—one grumpy NHL “bad boy” needing an image makeover and one sunshiney teacher desperately needing a break from the world’s worst dates—quickly turns into the kind of slow-burn chaos that made me want to kick their feet and yell “JUST KISS ALREADY.” Watching these two awkwardly orbit each other while insisting their feelings are totally fake was equal parts hilarious, frustrating and swoony.
This book is the definition of a cozy hockey romance palate cleanser: soft, sweet, a little spicy, and packed with tender moments that sneak up on you. John may have a playboy reputation, but underneath the grumpy enforcer exterior is a shy cinnamon roll who absolutely melts for Annie. The way their friendship slowly builds into something deeper made the payoff feel genuinely earned. The burn is very slow and the third-person POV took me a minute to settle into, but by the end I was grinning like I’d just watched the winning goal in overtime. A charming, feel-good hockey romance that proves sometimes the fakest relationships end up feeling the most real. 🏒
I received an ARC copy and wanted to leave an honest review voluntarily.
Dedication: This book is dedicated with deepest respect and encouragement to those who were afraid to try and fail but chose to try anyway. It’s hard to put ourselves out there and risk both judgement and failure, but success is impossible to achieve without hard work, perseverance, and an unwavering confidence in ourselves and our potential. Believe in yourself. I do.
Annie (FMC): 26 • Kindergarten Teacher • Enjoys Crafting & Knitting • Homebody • Book Lover •
John (MMC): Right Winger • Star Enforcer • Party & Bad Boy • Dog Dad •
Tropes:
🏒 NHL Player x Kindergarten Teacher
🖍️ Hockey Romance
🏒 Fake Dating
🖍️ Opposites Attract
🏒 Teammate's SIL
🖍️ Reformed Player Bad Boy
🏒 Banter as Flirting
🖍️ Found Family
🏒 Nicknames
🖍️ Adorable Fluffy Sidekick (🐶)
Rating: 🦌🦌🦌🦌(4⭐️)
Spice: 🌶️🫑🫑(self pleasure, toys as teammates, praise, dirty talk, impact play (light), begging)
T/W: alcohol consumption (on page), parental abandonment (referenced), absentee parenting (referenced), body image issues (on page), manipulation (not MCs, on page), death of a loved one (referenced), narcotics use (referenced, not MCs), AIWS/Todd’s Syndrome (referenced), grief (referenced), unwanted taking of a person (on page)
What starts as a perfectly logical PR move—one grumpy NHL “bad boy” needing an image makeover and one sunshiney teacher desperately needing a break from the world’s worst dates—quickly turns into the kind of slow-burn chaos that made me want to kick their feet and yell “JUST KISS ALREADY.” Watching these two awkwardly orbit each other while insisting their feelings are totally fake was equal parts hilarious, frustrating and swoony.
This book is the definition of a cozy hockey romance palate cleanser: soft, sweet, a little spicy, and packed with tender moments that sneak up on you. John may have a playboy reputation, but underneath the grumpy enforcer exterior is a shy cinnamon roll who absolutely melts for Annie. The way their friendship slowly builds into something deeper made the payoff feel genuinely earned. The burn is very slow and the third-person POV took me a minute to settle into, but by the end I was grinning like I’d just watched the winning goal in overtime. A charming, feel-good hockey romance that proves sometimes the fakest relationships end up feeling the most real. 🏒
I received an ARC copy and wanted to leave an honest review voluntarily.
March 5, 2026
For a hockey enforcer who is known for being a notoriously dirty playboy, John “Richie” Richards is the biggest damn cinnamon roll going, and he deserves to be protected at all costs. I might have to do a new set of cinnamon roll graphics just to do one for him. Ritchie gives Carter Beckett from Consider Me vibes, but with a LOT less ego. Where Carter is all ego, John (as Annie always refers to him) is completely riddled with self doubt and, anxiety and feelings of not being good enough for Annie. The self-flagellation gets to be a bit much with how long it lasts. And Annie is no better. Literally the only downside to this book for me is how long they each spent in their own heads convincing themselves they weren’t good enough for each other while being bloody perfect for each other.
But actually, I lied a bit; that wasn’t my only problem. I also did not enjoy the unneeded Dale subplot; it felt purposefully set up to hurt Richie for no reason. And the kidnapping towards the end felt out of the blue, rushed and unnecessary.
Barring those little, very personal complaints, I actually loved this book, and I want to go back and read book 1. John is nothing but book boyfriend goals the entire time, and Annie is absolutely adorable. The way she finally tells him he’s dyslexic is hilariously perfect, and it’s just too bad we don’t get to see her help him navigate that. Having just finished My Phony Valentine right before this, which is also a fake dating, reformed bad boy hockey romance set in/around Chicago, where the MMC’s dad is a convict, I was worried I would mix the two up in my head, but that hasn’t happened!
This was a fun, sweet romance, with some spice but nothing over the top. John is all about teaching Annie how to love herself so she knows what she deserves from the man who loves her.
✨ Read this if you like:
🏒 Hockey romance
🔥 Spicy lessons where he’s the teacher
🏥 When they take care of each other
🎧 An MMC who listens to audiobooks
🐶 Big himbos with tiny dogs
But actually, I lied a bit; that wasn’t my only problem. I also did not enjoy the unneeded Dale subplot; it felt purposefully set up to hurt Richie for no reason. And the kidnapping towards the end felt out of the blue, rushed and unnecessary.
Barring those little, very personal complaints, I actually loved this book, and I want to go back and read book 1. John is nothing but book boyfriend goals the entire time, and Annie is absolutely adorable. The way she finally tells him he’s dyslexic is hilariously perfect, and it’s just too bad we don’t get to see her help him navigate that. Having just finished My Phony Valentine right before this, which is also a fake dating, reformed bad boy hockey romance set in/around Chicago, where the MMC’s dad is a convict, I was worried I would mix the two up in my head, but that hasn’t happened!
This was a fun, sweet romance, with some spice but nothing over the top. John is all about teaching Annie how to love herself so she knows what she deserves from the man who loves her.
✨ Read this if you like:
🏒 Hockey romance
🔥 Spicy lessons where he’s the teacher
🏥 When they take care of each other
🎧 An MMC who listens to audiobooks
🐶 Big himbos with tiny dogs
March 5, 2026
Advanced review, thank you to Love Notes PR for the e-book!
This book was just....ok. I want to start by saying I read this book as a standalone (it's an interconnected standalone series), and I feel like I was missing some context between the main characters. I felt their connection initially lacked depth, which later develops since this is a SLOW burn, but for a situation like this it just felt....disconnected?
For the book layout/writing itself, 75 CHAPTERS IS INSANE. I think POVs should have been combined, and some of the tabloids taken out. There were just too many pauses going from one chapter to the next, that it broke up my reading. Lastly, the diction and dialogue choices were just odd throughout the book. The characters were so self-deprecating, and conversations felt like the author was trying to just make the characters talk more in the name of "bonding" throughout the story. I also don't know if the author did any research on what it takes to be a kindergarten teacher, because the ML kept harping on about how she's a "sophisticated, educated, literary, scholarly woman" compared to his uneducated self, but um, my friends who got an early childhood education degree literally laugh about how un-intellectual their classes are. The rumors are true that they have coloring HW. So um...not the hardest degree. (No hate to teachers! I wouldn't have become an engineer without all my previous teachers guidance growing up!!!)
Overall, it was an ok book. There are others out there with very similar plots that I think are better reads, but if you happen to pick up this book it'll just help you pass the time.
This book was just....ok. I want to start by saying I read this book as a standalone (it's an interconnected standalone series), and I feel like I was missing some context between the main characters. I felt their connection initially lacked depth, which later develops since this is a SLOW burn, but for a situation like this it just felt....disconnected?
For the book layout/writing itself, 75 CHAPTERS IS INSANE. I think POVs should have been combined, and some of the tabloids taken out. There were just too many pauses going from one chapter to the next, that it broke up my reading. Lastly, the diction and dialogue choices were just odd throughout the book. The characters were so self-deprecating, and conversations felt like the author was trying to just make the characters talk more in the name of "bonding" throughout the story. I also don't know if the author did any research on what it takes to be a kindergarten teacher, because the ML kept harping on about how she's a "sophisticated, educated, literary, scholarly woman" compared to his uneducated self, but um, my friends who got an early childhood education degree literally laugh about how un-intellectual their classes are. The rumors are true that they have coloring HW. So um...not the hardest degree. (No hate to teachers! I wouldn't have become an engineer without all my previous teachers guidance growing up!!!)
Overall, it was an ok book. There are others out there with very similar plots that I think are better reads, but if you happen to pick up this book it'll just help you pass the time.
March 1, 2026
I give 3.5 stars. I got this as an ARC and having never read any of her material I was excited to read someone new. It's hard to get into fake dating tropes even though they're one of my favorites because they're often too similar; however; this one was still interesting enough to continue reading. John is a former playboy and Annie is his Captain's sister-in-law and of course she has to move in because there are issues at her house. Very classic plot and both characters are interested in each other from the beginning but think they are out of each other's leagues. I had to look up a few words to make sure I understood them which seemed a bit too much at times but it's not terrible. I think the writing was okay and I was invested in the outcome of the story. I wish there was more banter and humor between teammates but I didn't read the first one to know what the tone of the series is. I thought it was cool to have the tabloid articles but wasn't a fan of the chapters where there were text exchanges. Overall, it was a cute book with likeable characters. I would read the rest of the series to see how the other character's stories go, but it's not a deep book that makes me immediately want to grab the rest. I think the author is off to a great start and I look forward to seeing what she writes next.
February 23, 2026
“Annie was already doing a number on him with her beautiful body and sweet self. Now she had to smell delicious, too? Not fair.”
This book is so good, how the fake dating to real dating is done is perfection. They needed the fake dating to get from acquaintances to more. They needed the ability of that ruse so that they had time to figure themselves out as well as be their selfs and allow the other to fall in love with who they truly are.
John is a true big softy at heart. He might be the bad boy whilst on the ice but he’s so sweet and thoughtful. When Annie says she wants to try new things, he’s on board and he doesn’t take over but he helps her come up with ideas of new things to try and joins her in trying them. He’s got a huge heart and cares immensely.
And when things do develop in the spicy department, John is pretty damn spicy 🌶️ his mouth is 🥵
Annie is a sweetie, she spends most of the time beating herself up and thinking she’s not worthy after a long list of exs are horrific to her, but I love the way with a little bit of Johns help but mostly her own strength she rebuilds her confidence. Even though she’s been knocked down she gets back up. And she’s just sweet.
I liked the added level of drama this one had compared to the first book, with Johns old school friend causing trouble and making it difficult for John and Annie.
Look forward to seeing what Jillian is going to do with the rest of this series.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
“She wasn’t just beautiful; she was a goddess.”
This book is so good, how the fake dating to real dating is done is perfection. They needed the fake dating to get from acquaintances to more. They needed the ability of that ruse so that they had time to figure themselves out as well as be their selfs and allow the other to fall in love with who they truly are.
John is a true big softy at heart. He might be the bad boy whilst on the ice but he’s so sweet and thoughtful. When Annie says she wants to try new things, he’s on board and he doesn’t take over but he helps her come up with ideas of new things to try and joins her in trying them. He’s got a huge heart and cares immensely.
And when things do develop in the spicy department, John is pretty damn spicy 🌶️ his mouth is 🥵
Annie is a sweetie, she spends most of the time beating herself up and thinking she’s not worthy after a long list of exs are horrific to her, but I love the way with a little bit of Johns help but mostly her own strength she rebuilds her confidence. Even though she’s been knocked down she gets back up. And she’s just sweet.
I liked the added level of drama this one had compared to the first book, with Johns old school friend causing trouble and making it difficult for John and Annie.
Look forward to seeing what Jillian is going to do with the rest of this series.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
“She wasn’t just beautiful; she was a goddess.”
February 28, 2026
Thank you to the author and Love Notes PR for my gifted copy.
Hockey romance is a go-to genre for me. While this story involved hockey players, there wasn’t a lot of hockey involved. I enjoyed this story. It was light and fluffy. The characters were charming. I didn’t particularly see the MMC as a “bad boy” but I understand where that was coming from. I enjoyed knowing the characters’ inner feelings when they didn’t know each others. It made me want to scream a couple of times but it was charming. I dislike the miscommunication trope. It just seems silly when a quick conversation would solve things.
While I enjoyed this story, it didn’t knock my socks off. I felt that the characters’ insecurities was mentioned a lot in the early chapters to the point it was repetitive and made me roll my eyes. I tended to skip those paragraphs because I got it - she’s self-conscious of her body, he thinks he is “just a dumb jock.” The repetitiveness really brought the story down for me. I also felt the “kidnapping” at the end felt forced. It didn’t help that I just read a different hockey romance with a similar plot but that I thought was executed a little better.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and chemistry between the characters. It was an easy read which is always a good thing.
Hockey romance is a go-to genre for me. While this story involved hockey players, there wasn’t a lot of hockey involved. I enjoyed this story. It was light and fluffy. The characters were charming. I didn’t particularly see the MMC as a “bad boy” but I understand where that was coming from. I enjoyed knowing the characters’ inner feelings when they didn’t know each others. It made me want to scream a couple of times but it was charming. I dislike the miscommunication trope. It just seems silly when a quick conversation would solve things.
While I enjoyed this story, it didn’t knock my socks off. I felt that the characters’ insecurities was mentioned a lot in the early chapters to the point it was repetitive and made me roll my eyes. I tended to skip those paragraphs because I got it - she’s self-conscious of her body, he thinks he is “just a dumb jock.” The repetitiveness really brought the story down for me. I also felt the “kidnapping” at the end felt forced. It didn’t help that I just read a different hockey romance with a similar plot but that I thought was executed a little better.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and chemistry between the characters. It was an easy read which is always a good thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2026
ARC review book 2 in the Chicago Challenges series
Antecdotal thoughts while reading
Annie's best friend (dad is asst. coach) plus sister are tied to the hockey team. She has no other choice than to join in the festivities.
John being awkward is sweet to read.
John from modest, humble beginnings and doesn't fit in with the rich and famous NHL lifestyle.
Will there be a fake relationship to clean up his image?
Don't think I would of lasted as long with the insect guy.
Cheese and crackers. Holy snickerdoodle. Holy fracker on a cracker. Oh sheep! 😂
The ex and a recent past date....oh no! Related!!! WTF
Oh boy, drunk Annie isn't good.
Some forced proximity starting
That's a big first step in your year of discovery Annie!
I love how they've both shocked each other enough to throw back sake like a shot.
Who is this Estelle lady?? Why does she sound like a long time puck 🐰? Maybe from high school days??? Question answered.
I think both John and Annie's love language is acts of service. They both seem to nurture each other.
Trying to see if you've got game John?? 😄
John, are you Dyslexic?
At some point Estella needs to be responsible for her own choices, good or bad.
Welp, you screwed up big time!
Oh 💩! Does this trace back to Estelle?
Antecdotal thoughts while reading
Annie's best friend (dad is asst. coach) plus sister are tied to the hockey team. She has no other choice than to join in the festivities.
John being awkward is sweet to read.
John from modest, humble beginnings and doesn't fit in with the rich and famous NHL lifestyle.
Will there be a fake relationship to clean up his image?
Don't think I would of lasted as long with the insect guy.
Cheese and crackers. Holy snickerdoodle. Holy fracker on a cracker. Oh sheep! 😂
The ex and a recent past date....oh no! Related!!! WTF
Oh boy, drunk Annie isn't good.
Some forced proximity starting
That's a big first step in your year of discovery Annie!
I love how they've both shocked each other enough to throw back sake like a shot.
Who is this Estelle lady?? Why does she sound like a long time puck 🐰? Maybe from high school days??? Question answered.
I think both John and Annie's love language is acts of service. They both seem to nurture each other.
Trying to see if you've got game John?? 😄
John, are you Dyslexic?
At some point Estella needs to be responsible for her own choices, good or bad.
Welp, you screwed up big time!
Oh 💩! Does this trace back to Estelle?
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Annie es una maestra de kínder que vive tranquila, rodeada de libros, niños y planes sencillos. Lo último que necesita es complicarse la vida con un jugador profesional de hockey que aparece en todas las columnas de chismes de Chicago. Sin embargo, una invitación inesperada a una obra de teatro la pone en el radar de John Richards, el ala derecha más temido y comentado de los Chicago Challengers.
John tiene la fama de fiestero y chico problema, pero fuera del hielo su historia es distinta. Viene de un pasado humilde, ha trabajado duro por cada contrato y no está tan cómodo bajo los reflectores como todos creen. Cuando los rumores comienzan a circular y su imagen pública amenaza con afectar su carrera, Annie se convierte en la persona menos probable para ayudarlo.
Lo que inicia como un favor pronto se transforma en algo mucho más profundo. Annie descubre que detrás del jugador rudo hay un hombre leal y protector, mientras John encuentra en ella una estabilidad que no sabía que necesitaba.
___
Le falto un mejor desarrollo al tema de E.
Gracias Love Notes PR por el ARC.
John tiene la fama de fiestero y chico problema, pero fuera del hielo su historia es distinta. Viene de un pasado humilde, ha trabajado duro por cada contrato y no está tan cómodo bajo los reflectores como todos creen. Cuando los rumores comienzan a circular y su imagen pública amenaza con afectar su carrera, Annie se convierte en la persona menos probable para ayudarlo.
Lo que inicia como un favor pronto se transforma en algo mucho más profundo. Annie descubre que detrás del jugador rudo hay un hombre leal y protector, mientras John encuentra en ella una estabilidad que no sabía que necesitaba.
___
Le falto un mejor desarrollo al tema de E.
Gracias Love Notes PR por el ARC.
Review of advance copy
The strong enforcer and the sweet teacher have explosive chemistry.
John Richards is an enforcer on the ice and one shot away of losing his career due to poor decisions and a questionable past. He needs help.
Annie Taylor has had the worst luck when it comes to love. She has a tendency to attract the worst of the worst. She needs a dating hiatus.
Fake dating each other seems like the solution to both their problems: date a kindergarten teacher and clean up his image, date a notorious playboy and take a dating break.
What starts off as fake, quickly turns into something real and undeniable, but insecurities and past problems become obstacles in the pursuit of love.
Puck Bunny is an amazing story of slow burn attraction, deep connection and true love.
Jillian Maclean gives us a testimony of how love knows no bounds, of polar opposites attracting, of finding your soulmate in unexpected places, of being enough, finding yourself and overcoming insecurities.
The story is well written, the characters have depth and the plot evolves naturally.
A beautiful, spicy, swoon worthy romance.
Thank you for the ARC.
John Richards is an enforcer on the ice and one shot away of losing his career due to poor decisions and a questionable past. He needs help.
Annie Taylor has had the worst luck when it comes to love. She has a tendency to attract the worst of the worst. She needs a dating hiatus.
Fake dating each other seems like the solution to both their problems: date a kindergarten teacher and clean up his image, date a notorious playboy and take a dating break.
What starts off as fake, quickly turns into something real and undeniable, but insecurities and past problems become obstacles in the pursuit of love.
Puck Bunny is an amazing story of slow burn attraction, deep connection and true love.
Jillian Maclean gives us a testimony of how love knows no bounds, of polar opposites attracting, of finding your soulmate in unexpected places, of being enough, finding yourself and overcoming insecurities.
The story is well written, the characters have depth and the plot evolves naturally.
A beautiful, spicy, swoon worthy romance.
Thank you for the ARC.
February 13, 2026
Advanced Readers Copy Review!
First of all so honored to get an arc copy and be given this opportunity!! Thank you Love Notes PR & Jillian Maclean 💋🫶
3.5 ⭐️
Now what we’ve all been waiting for, the review. This was adorable, super cute, little spicy, little funny, ya know everything we want from a hockey romance! You can always count on me to read a fake dating hockey romance 🥰
Had mostly everything I wanted. The slowburn, the opposites attract, overcoming insecurities, the typical hockey player in need of saving his reputation, and the girl giving up on love. I am a fake dating LOVER! Especially when it doesn’t become fake and is undeniable 😏
I wish there was a smidge bit more spice (please don’t come after me for this one 😩). I also felt really disconnected from the characters, maybe it’s because of the third person pov, I’m not sure. Sometime the conversation felt very forced as well which made it a little bit hard for me to get through.
All in all this is a good hockey romance book, BUT as someone who has read lots of hockey romance this did not stand out to me all that much. I really enjoyed my time reading it though do not mistake that! 🩷
First of all so honored to get an arc copy and be given this opportunity!! Thank you Love Notes PR & Jillian Maclean 💋🫶
3.5 ⭐️
Now what we’ve all been waiting for, the review. This was adorable, super cute, little spicy, little funny, ya know everything we want from a hockey romance! You can always count on me to read a fake dating hockey romance 🥰
Had mostly everything I wanted. The slowburn, the opposites attract, overcoming insecurities, the typical hockey player in need of saving his reputation, and the girl giving up on love. I am a fake dating LOVER! Especially when it doesn’t become fake and is undeniable 😏
I wish there was a smidge bit more spice (please don’t come after me for this one 😩). I also felt really disconnected from the characters, maybe it’s because of the third person pov, I’m not sure. Sometime the conversation felt very forced as well which made it a little bit hard for me to get through.
All in all this is a good hockey romance book, BUT as someone who has read lots of hockey romance this did not stand out to me all that much. I really enjoyed my time reading it though do not mistake that! 🩷
Review of advance copy
When I got to the end of this book and realized this is only the author’s second book ever (not just the second in the series), my jaw actually hit the floor.
This story has a little bit of everything: deep character connection, found family, the transformative power of love and support, and yes… a few hot, spicy page-turners. 🥵🔥
When we first meet these characters, we immediately see their insecurities and self-doubt. On the outside, they appear confident, stable, and attractive—but internally, they’re battling that quiet voice that tells them they aren’t enough. That they’re unlovable. That voice felt painfully real and incredibly relatable.
What I loved most is how their growth mirrors each other. They’re different, yet exactly what the other needs. Watching them not only fall in love with each other, but also learn to love themselves, made the emotional payoff hit so much harder.
The unexpected drama added just the right amount of tension and gave the story an extra layer I didn’t see coming. And that full-circle moment? I absolutely lost it. Phenomenal.
I’m officially obsessed and already counting down to book three. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
This story has a little bit of everything: deep character connection, found family, the transformative power of love and support, and yes… a few hot, spicy page-turners. 🥵🔥
When we first meet these characters, we immediately see their insecurities and self-doubt. On the outside, they appear confident, stable, and attractive—but internally, they’re battling that quiet voice that tells them they aren’t enough. That they’re unlovable. That voice felt painfully real and incredibly relatable.
What I loved most is how their growth mirrors each other. They’re different, yet exactly what the other needs. Watching them not only fall in love with each other, but also learn to love themselves, made the emotional payoff hit so much harder.
The unexpected drama added just the right amount of tension and gave the story an extra layer I didn’t see coming. And that full-circle moment? I absolutely lost it. Phenomenal.
I’m officially obsessed and already counting down to book three. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
February 26, 2026
Thank you for the ARC — this is my honest review.
Puck Bunny by Jillian MacLean was exactly what I hoped it would be: a fun, swoony hockey romance with fake dating, layered characters, and just enough emotional depth to keep it from feeling predictable.
The tropes alone had me excited — hockey romance and fake dating are two of my absolute favorites romance tropes (maybe the only romance I read) — and while the book doesn’t necessarily reinvent the genre, it brings thoughtful nuance to familiar dynamics.
John is incredibly sweet without feeling flat. He has that soft, quietly devoted energy that makes him easy to root for. Annie, on the other hand, is such a genuinely good-hearted character, but she struggles with her own insecurities and internal doubts. Both of them carry emotional baggage that clouds how they interpret each other’s actions, which creates believable tension rather than unnecessary drama.
For most of the novel, the story feels like a comfort read: witty banter, natural chemistry, swoony fake dating moments, and emotional vulnerability woven in at the right pace.
Then the final stretch shifts the tone. The drama toward the end genuinely caught my attention — not in a cliché way, but in a “wait… what is happening right now?” way. It raises the emotional stakes and gives the story a stronger payoff.
Overall, this is a romantic, engaging sports romance with heart, humor, and just enough angst to keep things interesting. If you love hockey romance and fake dating, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Puck Bunny by Jillian MacLean was exactly what I hoped it would be: a fun, swoony hockey romance with fake dating, layered characters, and just enough emotional depth to keep it from feeling predictable.
The tropes alone had me excited — hockey romance and fake dating are two of my absolute favorites romance tropes (maybe the only romance I read) — and while the book doesn’t necessarily reinvent the genre, it brings thoughtful nuance to familiar dynamics.
John is incredibly sweet without feeling flat. He has that soft, quietly devoted energy that makes him easy to root for. Annie, on the other hand, is such a genuinely good-hearted character, but she struggles with her own insecurities and internal doubts. Both of them carry emotional baggage that clouds how they interpret each other’s actions, which creates believable tension rather than unnecessary drama.
For most of the novel, the story feels like a comfort read: witty banter, natural chemistry, swoony fake dating moments, and emotional vulnerability woven in at the right pace.
Then the final stretch shifts the tone. The drama toward the end genuinely caught my attention — not in a cliché way, but in a “wait… what is happening right now?” way. It raises the emotional stakes and gives the story a stronger payoff.
Overall, this is a romantic, engaging sports romance with heart, humor, and just enough angst to keep things interesting. If you love hockey romance and fake dating, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy
Thank you to LoveNotesPR for the ARC 💓
3.5 ⭐️ (Goodreads we need half stars please 🙏)
🏒 Hockey player
✏️ Teacher
🫶 Fake dating
🪞 Image/reputation damage control
Hockey player MMC John has a bit of a bad image and reputation that is threatening to destroy the career he has worked so hard for. Annie, his team mates sister in law and kindergarten teacher might just be the answer to his problems. Annie is down on luck after a string of really terrible dates and feels ready to take a dating break. The pair enter a fake dating situation in order to protect their hearts and reputation but as we know this plan doesn't always follow the rules...
Lots of potential in this read and fake dating is one of my favourite tropes but for me it was too long (over 400 pages), there wasn't enough spice (personal preference 😜) and it was in 3rd person! I cannot with the 3rd person im sorry! 🙄
The book was ok but nothing stood out for me.
The cricket protein bar chat was something else... 😳 not in a good way!
Sorry, this one just wasn't for me.
3.5 ⭐️ (Goodreads we need half stars please 🙏)
🏒 Hockey player
✏️ Teacher
🫶 Fake dating
🪞 Image/reputation damage control
Hockey player MMC John has a bit of a bad image and reputation that is threatening to destroy the career he has worked so hard for. Annie, his team mates sister in law and kindergarten teacher might just be the answer to his problems. Annie is down on luck after a string of really terrible dates and feels ready to take a dating break. The pair enter a fake dating situation in order to protect their hearts and reputation but as we know this plan doesn't always follow the rules...
Lots of potential in this read and fake dating is one of my favourite tropes but for me it was too long (over 400 pages), there wasn't enough spice (personal preference 😜) and it was in 3rd person! I cannot with the 3rd person im sorry! 🙄
The book was ok but nothing stood out for me.
The cricket protein bar chat was something else... 😳 not in a good way!
Sorry, this one just wasn't for me.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
ARC received via LoveNotesPR and Jillian Maclean. Loved this so much!!!! ❤️
5🌟 2.5🌶
Annie and John, love love love! John is the older bad boy of hockey who needs to clean up his image. Annie, Kindegarten teacher, is his teammate's Sis in Law who is familiar with the team. A team company event to the theater sparks this interesting relationship. Annie would love to go, John's typical female interests wouldnt fit the vibe and he offers her to he his plus one. Now starts the Forced Proximity and Fake Dating, and boom, insanely fast intense blurred lines. Caught up in dating to improve his image, he begins to fall for Annie first, all while Annie is realizing she is falling for him too. One of my favorite scenes is the Adult Fun Store 🤣 There is a 3rd act breakup type sitch, that just made me lose my mind! It really is a small world for this series is all I'm gonns say haha. Written very well and could be read as a standalone, but I do recommend reading Book 1, Stick Side, as well. Cover art is adorable, but the visual of Annie given from descriptions in the book doesn't match up in my mind, but nothing wrong with that.
5🌟 2.5🌶
Annie and John, love love love! John is the older bad boy of hockey who needs to clean up his image. Annie, Kindegarten teacher, is his teammate's Sis in Law who is familiar with the team. A team company event to the theater sparks this interesting relationship. Annie would love to go, John's typical female interests wouldnt fit the vibe and he offers her to he his plus one. Now starts the Forced Proximity and Fake Dating, and boom, insanely fast intense blurred lines. Caught up in dating to improve his image, he begins to fall for Annie first, all while Annie is realizing she is falling for him too. One of my favorite scenes is the Adult Fun Store 🤣 There is a 3rd act breakup type sitch, that just made me lose my mind! It really is a small world for this series is all I'm gonns say haha. Written very well and could be read as a standalone, but I do recommend reading Book 1, Stick Side, as well. Cover art is adorable, but the visual of Annie given from descriptions in the book doesn't match up in my mind, but nothing wrong with that.
March 3, 2026
This charming hockey romance is such an enjoyable read! Thank you so much to Jillian Maclean and Love Notes PR for the early release copy - I'm so excited to share my thoughts with you all!
I always adore a love story that has a balance of romance and passion. The slow burn between John and Annie is so precious and natural! You can really feel their relationship grow from strangers to friends and beyond as the story progresses.
There are a lot of pieces of this book that felt really important: stereotypes are disproven, characters discover themselves, and self-love is supported. It felt like the most mundane instances in this book were what stood out to me the most - romanticizing the little things.
The few spicy scenes are written phenomenally and didn't feel forced or thrown in at all. I also appreciate the note from the author that disclosed skipping these scenes would not take away from the story at all. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend to my hockey slow burn loving romance girlies!!
I always adore a love story that has a balance of romance and passion. The slow burn between John and Annie is so precious and natural! You can really feel their relationship grow from strangers to friends and beyond as the story progresses.
There are a lot of pieces of this book that felt really important: stereotypes are disproven, characters discover themselves, and self-love is supported. It felt like the most mundane instances in this book were what stood out to me the most - romanticizing the little things.
The few spicy scenes are written phenomenally and didn't feel forced or thrown in at all. I also appreciate the note from the author that disclosed skipping these scenes would not take away from the story at all. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend to my hockey slow burn loving romance girlies!!
March 4, 2026
A Winning Goal for Hockey Romance Fans!
You absolutely gotta love an MMC who is completely gone for a thick FMC! John is a reformed playboy hockey player who secretly harbors insecurities about his high school education, especially when it comes to the sweet kindergarten teacher who has captured his heart—who also just happens to be his captain’s sister-in-law.
Throw the fake dating trope into a hockey romance, and this story had me hooked from the start.
John is the ultimate swoon-worthy hero who is always exactly where she needs him to be. He literally shows up at the perfect times:
• The Date Rescue: He walks right in to save her from a disastrous first date.
• The Knight in Hockey Pads: When her basement floods and her furnace breaks, he swoops in to pick her up, absolutely refusing to take no for an answer.
I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this read. If you're a fan of fake dating, reformed playboys, and a hero who shows his devotion through protective actions, you will definitely love this one too!
You absolutely gotta love an MMC who is completely gone for a thick FMC! John is a reformed playboy hockey player who secretly harbors insecurities about his high school education, especially when it comes to the sweet kindergarten teacher who has captured his heart—who also just happens to be his captain’s sister-in-law.
Throw the fake dating trope into a hockey romance, and this story had me hooked from the start.
John is the ultimate swoon-worthy hero who is always exactly where she needs him to be. He literally shows up at the perfect times:
• The Date Rescue: He walks right in to save her from a disastrous first date.
• The Knight in Hockey Pads: When her basement floods and her furnace breaks, he swoops in to pick her up, absolutely refusing to take no for an answer.
I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this read. If you're a fan of fake dating, reformed playboys, and a hero who shows his devotion through protective actions, you will definitely love this one too!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Puck Bunny is NHL enforcer John Richards and kindergarten teacher Annie Taylor’s sweet and spicy, fake to real romance story. It’s book two in The Chicago Challengers Series but it’s the first book I have read by this author. I loved everything about this book from the characters to the camaraderie this team share as well as everything in between.
Annie’s sister is married to John’s teammate so when John needs some help cleaning up his reputation and Annie needs help with her bad dating history it seems like fake dating will do them both a favour. But what happens when real feelings come into play……….
This is a well written, entertaining, emotional and witty story about deep love, friendships and bonds being made. It may be the first book by this author for me but it won’t be the last. I smiled and I swooned as I fell hard and fast for this adorable couple and the teammates that play a big part in this journey.
Annie’s sister is married to John’s teammate so when John needs some help cleaning up his reputation and Annie needs help with her bad dating history it seems like fake dating will do them both a favour. But what happens when real feelings come into play……….
This is a well written, entertaining, emotional and witty story about deep love, friendships and bonds being made. It may be the first book by this author for me but it won’t be the last. I smiled and I swooned as I fell hard and fast for this adorable couple and the teammates that play a big part in this journey.
Review of advance copy received from Author
John and Annie’s story was an epically slow burn.
He’s mired in scandal, hoping to salvage his career, and she’s completely over dating…
When they’re mistakenly reported as dating, John asks for Annie to continue, fake dating for a few months until everything settles down.
This moved almost too slow. I liked John, but there was so much focus on his ‘worthiness’, and he kept holding back. He was so selfless with others, but cruel to himself, but it did get frustrating waiting for it to move along. His history was heartbreaking, and even though she wasn’t in much, I thought that Estelle weaponised it to keep her hooks in him.
Annie was so naive, it wasn’t funny. I also liked her, but geez… she was definitely clueless about the men in her life. And the drama at the end…. so out of the box, and hilarious. I actually quite enjoyed that bit!
It was an interesting book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but there was just something missing for it to truly captivate me.
He’s mired in scandal, hoping to salvage his career, and she’s completely over dating…
When they’re mistakenly reported as dating, John asks for Annie to continue, fake dating for a few months until everything settles down.
This moved almost too slow. I liked John, but there was so much focus on his ‘worthiness’, and he kept holding back. He was so selfless with others, but cruel to himself, but it did get frustrating waiting for it to move along. His history was heartbreaking, and even though she wasn’t in much, I thought that Estelle weaponised it to keep her hooks in him.
Annie was so naive, it wasn’t funny. I also liked her, but geez… she was definitely clueless about the men in her life. And the drama at the end…. so out of the box, and hilarious. I actually quite enjoyed that bit!
It was an interesting book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but there was just something missing for it to truly captivate me.
February 22, 2026
The story follows Annie, a kindergarten teacher with bad luck in dating and John, a professional hockey player with a bad boy reputation, in need of an image improvement before his contract renewal. They end up in a fake dating scheme to help each other out but of course things don’t go as they plan.
Sadly this book really missed the mark for me. The premise of opposites attract and fake dating was promising and the characters seemed interesting.
However, the writing style felt unnecessarily overcomplicated at times, which made reading uneasy.
I also found the story boring, it made me skim through pages just to get through the book.
Honestly, the story didn’t captivate me at all, I just couldn’t care less about the characters and in my opinion the ending didn’t really fit. I see what the writer was trying to do, but it felt forced.
Thank you to Love Notes PR for the ARC. This is my honest review.
Sadly this book really missed the mark for me. The premise of opposites attract and fake dating was promising and the characters seemed interesting.
However, the writing style felt unnecessarily overcomplicated at times, which made reading uneasy.
I also found the story boring, it made me skim through pages just to get through the book.
Honestly, the story didn’t captivate me at all, I just couldn’t care less about the characters and in my opinion the ending didn’t really fit. I see what the writer was trying to do, but it felt forced.
Thank you to Love Notes PR for the ARC. This is my honest review.
March 5, 2026
This book was given to me as a arc review
This was a cute, fun hockey romance. Annie and John had great chemistry and I enjoyed their banter throughout the book. I liked that Annie felt like a strong FMC who could hold her own, and it was nice seeing John slowly soften around her as their relationship developed. The slow-burn and opposites-attract elements worked really well for me.
That said, I did feel a bit of a disconnect with the characters at times. Some of the internal thoughts started to feel repetitive and the self-doubt from both Annie and John got a little frustrating after a while. I also wish the ending had been a bit more fleshed out. It wrapped up pretty quickly and I would have loved an epilogue or just a little more time with them as a couple.
Overall though, this was still an enjoyable hockey romance and I had a good time reading it. If you like sports romance with banter, tension, and a slow-burn relationship, this is definitely worth checking out.
This was a cute, fun hockey romance. Annie and John had great chemistry and I enjoyed their banter throughout the book. I liked that Annie felt like a strong FMC who could hold her own, and it was nice seeing John slowly soften around her as their relationship developed. The slow-burn and opposites-attract elements worked really well for me.
That said, I did feel a bit of a disconnect with the characters at times. Some of the internal thoughts started to feel repetitive and the self-doubt from both Annie and John got a little frustrating after a while. I also wish the ending had been a bit more fleshed out. It wrapped up pretty quickly and I would have loved an epilogue or just a little more time with them as a couple.
Overall though, this was still an enjoyable hockey romance and I had a good time reading it. If you like sports romance with banter, tension, and a slow-burn relationship, this is definitely worth checking out.
March 25, 2026
I was debating whether to give this book a 2 star or 3 but since overall the book was a cute read I went with a 3 ⭐⭐⭐
It was was fluffy and cute with fake dating I didn't read the first book so I wasn't sure how well they knew each other but from the book it seemed like not well but definitely knew each other enough so for me the fake dating worked and I thought it was very cute and able to see how the more they knew about each other the more they liked not just they were attracted to each other .
That was 10 or so percent before the book ended was just so random and honestly didn't fit with the overall vibe of the story at all but also was so abruptly to start and end as well like I felt no closure or anything with any of that .
Also there was I guess other side plots with the teacher and a child hood best friend were just like left like not fixed or misunderstanding or anything no sentence or 2 to be like oh yeah this was resolved but they the couple were nice
It was was fluffy and cute with fake dating I didn't read the first book so I wasn't sure how well they knew each other but from the book it seemed like not well but definitely knew each other enough so for me the fake dating worked and I thought it was very cute and able to see how the more they knew about each other the more they liked not just they were attracted to each other .
That was 10 or so percent before the book ended was just so random and honestly didn't fit with the overall vibe of the story at all but also was so abruptly to start and end as well like I felt no closure or anything with any of that .
Also there was I guess other side plots with the teacher and a child hood best friend were just like left like not fixed or misunderstanding or anything no sentence or 2 to be like oh yeah this was resolved but they the couple were nice
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am so honored to be an arc reader for Jillian's second book!!
I didn't get to read her first book before starting this arc read- so I can proudly say it is an interconnected standalone. The characters from the first book are mentioned in this book but you do not need their back story to follow along in the book.
Is it ever a second act breakup if they were fake dating first? Hockey bad boy settles down for the kindergarten teacher.
What I loved most about this story is that John never thought he stood a chance intellectually with a girl like Annie and Annie physically thought she would ever stand a chance with a guy like John. But through the fake dating they both taught each other how to love themselves more and that they both deserve the moon and back.
Thank you again Jillian for allowing me to be an arc reader. I cannot wait for book 3!
I didn't get to read her first book before starting this arc read- so I can proudly say it is an interconnected standalone. The characters from the first book are mentioned in this book but you do not need their back story to follow along in the book.
Is it ever a second act breakup if they were fake dating first? Hockey bad boy settles down for the kindergarten teacher.
What I loved most about this story is that John never thought he stood a chance intellectually with a girl like Annie and Annie physically thought she would ever stand a chance with a guy like John. But through the fake dating they both taught each other how to love themselves more and that they both deserve the moon and back.
Thank you again Jillian for allowing me to be an arc reader. I cannot wait for book 3!
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